US Muslim Group Says Closing Charities Interferes With Religious Duties

A Muslim coalition group yesterday sent a letter to Treasury Secretary John Snow complaining that actions against Muslim charities have interfered with the religious obligation of American Muslims to help the needy. In the wake of federal action last week to freeze assets of the Toledo, Ohio-based charity KindHearts, the Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections has requested a meeting with Secretary Snow. Federal authorities claimed that KindHearts was supporting Hamas terrorism in the Middle East. Reporting on these developments, the Toledo Blade says that Islamic law requires Muslims to donate to charity and places restrictions on how donated funds can be distributed. Secular American charities usually do not meet the requirements of Islamic law.